Bryan Lee

Graveside services for Willard Bryan Lee will be 10:00 am Saturday, June 17, 2017, at the Waynoka Municipal Cemetery with Rev. John Bowers officiating. Interment is under the direction of Marshall Funeral Home of Waynoka, LLC. Willard Bryan Lee was born in Kennard, Indiana, on October 14, 1920, to Harrison Edward Lee and Iva May (Walker) Lee. When Bryan was about 2 or 3 years old his parents moved to Waynoka, Oklahoma, where the children grew up. He worked after school in the bakery delivering bakery goods to stores and cafes. Bryan went to Northwestern at Alva for a short time, then transferred to radio school. He joined the Navy and was placed in radio school. After his schooling he was placed in the lighter than air division and trained in Lakehurst, New Jersey. He spent time in Florida, but most of his 4 years in the Navy was as a radio man on a blimp. Upon his discharge from the Navy, Bryan returned to Northwestern. After graduation, Bryan married Patricia Gene Mathes on August 29, 1948. The couple spent the next year in Greely, Colorado, where Bryan earned a Masters Degree in Administration of Schools. In 1950, both started their teaching careers in the Guymon Public Schools where he taught Social Studies in high school, then junior high, until he became the Elementary Counselor. Bryan also worked with Community Adult Education. Bryan was involved with the youth throughout his 37 years as a teacher. He participated in the Kid’s Inc. Board of Directors, coached and officiated Kid’s Inc. Basketball and worked with Special Olympics. He was named Texas County Teacher of the Year in 1975, and served as advisor for the Big Brother Big Sister Explorer Post. Bryan Lee served as a positive influence in his church and in his community. He was involved with Kiwanis, Oklahoma Education Association, Phi Delta Kappa, Red Red Rose, and the Oklahoma Personnel and Guidance Associations. In Bryan’s years of service in the First Christian Church, he served, not all at one time, as a deacon, elder, greeter, member of the Church Board, Chairman of the Board, and boy’s Sunday School teacher. In the Hurst Christian Church, he served as a greeter and committee member. In 1983, he was named the Citizen of the Year and given the Dale Citizenship Award. In 2000, he was given lifetime honorary membership of the Guymon City Library for his years of service to the library. Bryan and Pat moved to the Mid-Cities area in 1999 and were active in the Hurst Christian Church until his health failed. He was preceded in death by 4 sisters, Mildred as an infant, Geneva Stewart, Katherine Hutchison, and Virginia Bellows; 1 half-brother, Lee Stewart; 4 brothers-in-law, Glen Hutchison, Harold Bellows; Archie Davis, and Willis Zuck; 2 nieces and 3 nephews. Bryan is survived by his wife of 68 years, Patricia Lee; his son, Bryan E. Lee and wife, Katherine; granddaughter, Ruth Roddy and husband, Curtis; grandson, Daniel Lee; brother, James H. Lee and wife, Luella; brother-in-law Garrett Mathes and wife, Leona; sister-in-law Margaret Davis; 18 nieces, 19 nephews, and a host of great and great great grand nieces and nephews.

Bryan Lee

October 14, 1920 - June 11, 2017